Australia
September 26, 2007
CSIRO Plant Industry and
Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD) today announced the
Cotton Breeding Australia joint venture, to fund cotton breeding
and targeted research for a 10-year initial term
Both parties will contribute A$2
million per annum for research, with CSD also co-funding the
cotton breeding work previously co-funded by the Cotton Research
and Development Corporation (CRDC).
The first stage of Cotton Breeding Australia has already
commenced with CSD funding the addition of a new breeder to
CSIRO’s Narrabri breeding team.
“Cotton Breeding Australia will see an increase in investment in
cotton breeding and research, of approximately A$40 million over
the 10-year period,” says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr Jeremy
Burdon.
“It’s a great example of the RDC model developing research to a
point where it can be more directly funded by industry without
an additional grower levy or government funding.”
CSD is a grower-based company and has worked with CSIRO Plant
Industry since the 1980s to develop and deliver high quality
cotton varieties for the industry.
“Cotton Breeding Australia will see an increase in investment in
cotton breeding and research, of approximately A$40 million over
the 10-year period,” says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr Jeremy
Burdon.“The company has reached a point where it’s able to
reinvest into cotton specific projects and research,” says CSD
Managing Director, Peter Graham.
CSIRO-bred cotton varieties are world-leading, and the increased
research spend this initiative will introduce, will keep them
there,” Mr Graham says.
CSIRO and CSD recognise the very important contribution that
CRDC and the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association
(ACGRA) have made to the Australian cotton breeding program to
date, and look forward to the continuation of this contribution.
CSIRO-bred cotton varieties currently represent over 90 per cent
of the Australian market and are well represented around the
world.
Key areas for the breeding and research program include
yield/quality improvements, drought and climate change
tolerance, water use efficiency and disease tolerance.
CSD will also be funding additional capital expenditure to
ensure that the increased breeding and research work has
adequate resources to effectively bring the outcomes to the
market.
Other news
from Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd. |
|
